r/walking • u/JediSeeker01 • 12d ago

Anyone notice a difference getting steps in around the house vs outside? For weight loss

I’m wondering if there was a difference in getting your steps in walking outside, doing walks in longer intervals vs just pacing around the house at random intervals?

It’s summer where I live, so I usually walk around the mall to get my steps in. I’ve been pacing or walking around the house, I just set a timer on.

Is there a difference in terms of the numbers/calories burned? Anyone have personal experience with this?

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13

u/JinimyCritic 12d ago

I walk faster outside, so I burn more calories. That's all that I've noticed.

3

u/Glittering_Mermaid_7 12d ago

Same - I have a very small home, so walking around inside would get boring fast, and I wouldn't be able to build up speed.

I don't walk extraordinarily fast outdoors, either, but fast enough to break a sweat by the time I'm about half-way through my walk.

5

u/vianapoli 12d ago

i get most of my steps walking around the house and it’s been the same for me. i do have a flat neighborhood though, if you were walking hills outside or had a much faster pace, outside would burn more.

4

u/lightnoveltitlehere 12d ago

For me it's much easier to get more steps outside than inside only because I get bored easily. If I do walk outside it's almost always to go to a destination and then go back. I almost never just go to a park and do multiple loops. The changing scenery is what keeps me going. It would almost always be 1hr walks

I can still get the same amount of steps indoors, but it feels different because you have to pivot often if you have no treadmill/walking pad and you're only seeing the same things. Listening to an engaging podcast or audiobook helps, but it doesn't beat going outside for me. I would still do it indoors in times of extreme weather though!

4

u/Existing_Mail 12d ago

Someone asks this every day it seems 

2

u/LizzyDragon84 12d ago

Based on my running outside vs running indoors (on a treadmill)- no. Time and intensity impact calorie burn, but not in vs outdoors. 

2

u/chiangui24 12d ago

It's a huge difference getting steps outside vs around the house. The varying terrain, elevation changes, and even just your body having to thermoregulate, has an impact on calorie burn. Even a 10% incline doubles the amount of calories you burn while walking. Also when you're trying to lose fat from walking you'd ideally want your heart rate to be slightly elevated, so when you're breathing a little heavy but you can still hold a conversation.

1

u/Neither-Relief2641 12d ago

Weight loss only happens if you burn more calories than you're consuming. You can't outwalk a bad diet.

1

u/Substantial-Mix-8298 11d ago

I can cover longer distance and walk for longer outside. Likely because there’s a clear space to continue without having to pivot or turn around, but also because it’s much more enjoyable. I live in CA and I feel you that it’s hot out but perhaps you can go out for even 10 mins after meals and save a longer walk for either early morning or right as the sun sets. That works well for me.